Combined jack and switch



Sept. 29, 1925. 1,554,981

E. L. AIKEN homamnn JACK AND swn'ca Film! at, 21, "m4

mm mill Ml! [VI 42 INVENTOR WITNESS:

| ATTORN EY Patented Sept. 29," 1925.

UNITED STATES nnwann L. AIKEN, or new canton, miw JERSEY.

COMBINED JACK AND SWITCH.

Application filed- February 21, 1924. 2 Serial No. 694,348.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. AIKEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements 'in Combined Jacks and Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention-relates to electrical cont-act or control devices and has for its object-the provision of. a novel combined jack and switch designed primarily for use 1n connection with radio apparatus.

An important object is the PIOVlSlOIl of a device of this character usable simply as a switch and also capable of employment as a single or multiple circuit jack, the device being adapted for mounting upon an ordlnary panel and being of such a nature as to cooperate with the ordinary and well known type of phone plug. 0

Another object is the provision of a device of this character which is not only compact but which will also have minimum electrical capacitance, a feature of the utmostv consideration when used in radio apparatus. a

An additional object is the provision of a device of this nature which will be simple and inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install, positive in action, efficient and durable in service and a general improvement in the art. I

With the above and other objects and advantagesin v'ew the invention consists in the details of onstruction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: A

Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of the device,

Fi ure 2 is an elevation at right angles to Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a cross section,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section showi a solid plug inserted within the device, ii igure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 shown a telephone plug inserted within the devlce,

Figure 6 is a detail view of a modified or single contact form.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral 10 designates the body formed of suitable insulating material such and 21.

- as bakelite, hard rubber, fiber or the like and of any desired size and shape. In the present instance this block or body is illustrated as rectangular. This body is formed with a cylindrical hole 11. At one side the body is formed with spaced parallel grooves 12 which intersect the hole 11. The body is mounted by a screw S, on an L-shaped bracket 13 which has one arm formed with a threaded hole 14 leading into the hole 11. For mounting the device upon a panel or the like, I provide a thimble 15 having a threaded end screwed into the hole. 14 and having its opposite end formed with a head 16. The thimble 15 passes through the panel A, the bracket 13 bearing against the rear side of the panel and the head 16 bearing against the front thereof. The thimble is formed with a hole 17 registering with the hole 11 in the body.

Secured upon one side adjacent that one having the grooves 12 therein, are metallic contact strips 18 and 19 which are similar and which terminate in lateral extensions 20 These contact strips are held in place by screws 22 and 23 respectively which also act as binding means for wires of the circuit in which the device is used.

Disposedat the opposite sideof the body are angular metallic contact stri s 24 and 25 held in place by screws 26 an 27 respectively which may additionally serve as bindmg means for wires, altho'it is preferable to connect the wires by soldering them to the ends 32 of the contact strips 24 and 25 which may be straight or bent as indicated in the drawing. The contacts 24 and 25 include arms 28 and 29 respectively which lie within the grooves 12 and which normally engage against the respective extensions 20 and 21 of the contacts 18 and 19.

' When the device is used as a simple switch, wires are connected with the contacts 24 and 25 either by solderin the wires to the ends 32 or by connecting t em under the head of the screws 26 and 27 For completin the circuit through 1s ma e of a plain meta lic plug 30 which is insertedthrough the registering holes 17 and 11. When such a plug is inserted, it

will engage against the contact arms 28 and 29and bridge them. When the plug is re-. moved the circuit is broken in an obvious manner. If desired connection might be these wires, use

made to the contacts 24 and 18 or 25 and 19. 4 In this instance the circuit would be broken upon the insertion of theplug.

For employing the device as a single closed circuit jack, use is made of a standard jack plug B, which as is well known, includes a metallic shank, C and' a tip D insulated therefrom, both having respective terminals. The contacts 18 and 19 are replaced by a single contact 31 of a size to be engaged by both 28 and 29. The wires 1n the circuit are connected with the contacts 24 and 25 and it will be apparent that when the plug is in place, the shank'thereof Wlll engage the contact 24 while the tip wlll e11- gage the contact 25. When the plug is removed the circuit therethrough is broken and current passes through members 24 and 25' and contact 31. Itis obvious that by leaving on plate 31 and contacts 18 and 19 the jack would then serve the purpose of controlling a single open circuit.

The device is also capable of performin the functions of a double closed circuit jac and in this instance the same standard jack lug is used, the wires in the two circuits eing connected with the contacts 24 and 25, and 18 and 19. When the plug is inserted,

the arms 28 and 29 engaged thereby will be tacts 24 and 18 and 25 an moved out .of engagement with the extensions 20 and 21 of the contacts 18 and 19 and the circuit will be through the contacts 24 and 25, the lug tip and its shank. When the plug is wit drawn, the natural resilience ofthe arms 28 and 29 will cause them to reengage the extensions 20 and 21, thus completing the circuits directl through the con- From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a simple, neat, in- I expensive and easily connected and operated jack capable of use in several different combinations depending upon the nature of the circuits to be controlled.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangement of partsas will not depart from the spirit of the invention or t e scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising1 a body of insulating material having a ole therethrough and provided with grooves intersecting the hole, angular contacts secured upon one side of the body and having arms lying within said grooves in obstructing relation to the hole, a plurality of contacts secured upon the opposite side of the body and normally engaged by said arms, in combination with a plug insertable throughout the hole for engagement with said arms.

2. A device of the character described comprising a body of insulating materlal having. a hole therethrough and provided with grooves intersecting the hole, an ular contacts secured-upon one side of the ody and having arms lying within said grooves in obstructing relation to the hole, a plurality of contacts secured upon the opposite side of the body and normally engaged by said arms, in combination with a plug insertable throughout the hole for engagement with said arms, a support for said body, one end of the support having a threaded opening leading into said hole, and a thimble screwed into said threaded opening in the support and disposable through a mounting, the thimble terminating in ahead.

3. A device of the character described comprisin a body of insulating material having a ole therethrough, a support for the body, a mounting thimble screwed into one end of the support and having a hole registering with said first named hole, the body being formed in one side with spaced parallel grooves intersecting the first named ole, a plurality of contacts secured upon one side of the body and having angular extensions, and a plurality of angular contacts secured upon the opposite side of the body and including arms lying within said grooves in obstructing relation to the first named hole and normally contacting said extensions, in combination with a plug insertable through the registering holes for engagement with said arms.

4. A device of the character described comprisin a body of insulating materialhaving a ole therethrough, a support for the body, a mounting thimble screwed into one end of the support and having a hole registering With-said first named hole, the.

body being formed in one side with spaced parallel grooves intersecting the first named hole, a pa1r of contacts secured upon one;

side of the body and having angular, extensions, and a pair of angular contactssecured'upon the opposite side of the body and including arms lyin grooves in obstructing relationfto the first named hole and. normally contacting said extensions, in combination with a plug insertable through the registering holes for engagement with said arms, the respective contacts being adapted for connection in d fferent types of circuits whereby the devlce is operable as a switch, single circuit ack or multiple circuit 'ack.

5. device of the c aracter described comprisin a body of insulatin material having a ole therethrough an provided with at least one transverse groove intersecting the hole, at least one contact secured to the body and having an arm formed to substantially the transverse contour of thebody and lying in said transverse groove within said" comprising a body of insulating material comprising a body of insulating havinga hole .therethrough an provi with said arm.

comprising a body of insulatin intersecting said hole, and atleast one congrooves across said hole, and contacts setact secured to. the body and normally in cured on opposite sides of the body and engagement with said arm, said hole being normally in engagement with said arms, adapted 'toreceive a member for enga'gesaid hole-adapte ment with said arm. her for. engaging said arms. 7

6; di -device of the character described 9. A device of the character described material ded having a hole therethrough an provided with at least oneltransverse groove inter- 'with a plurality of grooves on one side of seating the Hole, and at least one contact vthe body and intersecting said hole, angular secured to one side of the body and having spring contacts fastened to an adjacent side an arm bent over another side of the body of the body andhaving arms lying in said and lying inisai-d transverse groove intergrooves across said hole, and at least one secting said hole, said hole being ada ted member secured to an opposite side of the to receivea member capable of longitu inal body and normally in enga ement with at. movementtherein to engage and disengage least one of said arms, said "ole adaptedto I p a receive a slidable member for engaging said 7. A device of the character described arms.

material 10. A device of the class described comhaving a hole therethrough an provided prising a'body of insulating material havwith a plurality of spaced transverse rooves ing a hole therein and provided with at intersecting 'the hole, a plurality 'o angw, least'one transverse groove intersecting said lar contacts secured to the body and each holeand at least one contact secured to one having an arm bent to substantially conside of the bod and having "an arm bent form to the transverse contour of the body ver another Si e of the body and lying in and lying in its respective groove and insaid transverse groove intersecting said hole,

tersecting said hole, and'a plurality of con said hole being adapted to receive a memi with a plurality of grooves on one side of slidable 'the body and intersecting said hole, angular member.

tacts secured tojthevbody and normally in her for engagement with said arm. engagement with said arms, said hole being 11; A device of the character described adapted to' re'ceive amember capable of comprising; a body of insulating material lon' itudinal movement therein to engage having a single longitudinal opening therean disengage with said arms. through, at least one transverse contact 8. A device of the character described member attached to an outer surface of said comprising a body" of insulatin material insulating material projecting across said having a holetherethrough an provided opening, said opening adapted to receive a member for engaging saidcontact to receive" a slidable memspring contacts fastened to an adjacent side, In testimony whereof I aiiia my signaturer i of the body and having arms lying in said EDWARD L. AIKEN. 

